Music & Nightlife
12 Hot Concerts

BY ETHAN BROWN

1 MADONNA at Madison Square Garden, July 25, 26, 28, 30, 31; at the Continental Airlines Arena, August 2-3. Mrs. Richie's first tour since 1993's "The Girlie Show" is causing a frenzy not seen since those scary Madonna-wannabe days of "Like a Virgin." Tickets to the New York shows sold out in minutes. (Check eBay or a ticket broker if you're desperate.)

2 RADIOHEAD at Liberty State Park, August 16-17. These British rockers didn't tour for last year's moody masterpiece Kid A, but they've decided to embrace the road in support of its follow-up, Amnesiac. (Sold out; check eBay or a ticket broker.)

3 U2 at the Continental Airlines Arena, June 21-22; at Madison Square Garden, June 17 and 19. This set of long-sold-out shows is further proof that the yen for the eighties -- and anthemic rock -- isn't letting up any. U2's nearly propless stage show also signals a return to the band's earnest Joshua Tree days. (Sold out; check eBay or a ticket broker.)

4 JANET JACKSON at Madison Square Garden, August 22-23. Jackson has been duking it out with Destiny's Child on the pop charts all spring, but this summer she'll no doubt show the R&B-divas-in-training who can truly rock. (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-7171.)

5 "AREA:ONE" at the Jones Beach Theater, July 15-16. Rave icon turned pop star Moby joins forces with hip-hoppers OutKast and the Roots as well as superstar D.J.'s Paul Oakenfold and Derrick May for the summer's most eclectic tour and what might be the first truly viable Lollapalooza replacement. (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-7171.)

6 ROXY MUSIC at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, July 23-24. Glam rock had a brief comeback thanks to Velvet Goldmine and New York's recently departed "Squeezebox" party, but Roxy Music will surely leave their lipstick traces all over the country for this unexpected -- yet sadly Brian Eno-less -- reunion tour. (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-1717.)

7 D.J. KOOL HERC, BIZ MARKIE, DOUG E. FRESH, WHODINI, and FULL FORCE at Central Park SummerStage, July 4. Pay tribute to hip-hop's old-school masters of M.C.'ing and D.J.'ing at this all-day B-boy jam. (Free.)

8 ERYKAH BADU at Central Park SummerStage, August 6. Her sophomore album, Mama's Gun, didn't ignite a revolution they way Baduizm did, but her many inheritors, like Jill Scott, prove that she's one of the most vital voices in R&B. (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-7171.)

9 BON JOVI at Giants Stadium, July 27-28. As if the return of big hair weren't enough, a full-fledged Bon Jovi stadium tour makes the heavy-metal revival complete. (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-7171.)

10 AL GREEN at the Beacon Theatre, June 19. The one Reverend Al we're always happy to see, Green will grace the Beacon with sweet odes to commitment like "I'm Still in Love With You." (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-7171.)

11 BACKSTREET BOYS at the Continental Airlines Arena, July 16-17. It's hard to tell if the teen-pop Zeitgeist has passed, but if anyone survives the inevitable killing-off of Gen Y popsters, it'll likely to be the Boys. (Tickets on sale now; 212-307-1717.)

12 "BODY & SOUL" at Central Park SummerStage, August 11. New York's legendary Sunday-afternoon dance party marks its third year at SummerStage with a Saturday-night blowout featuring its versatile trio of D.J.'s: François K, Joe Claussell and Danny Krivit. (Tickets on sale in late June; www.bodyandsoul-nyc.com for info.)